Catalytic sulfur degassing

Abstract

Liquid sulfur is degassed by passing through a bed of catalyst comprising at least one inorganic metal sulfide.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for the prepatation of (1) synthesis gas reduced in solids and acidic gases and (2) elemental sulfur which comprises (a) treating coal, shale or tar sands with oxygen to produce a synthesis gas stream containing inorganic sulfide; (b) recovering slag particles from the treatment of coal in step (a) and selecting particles thereof suitable for use as a catalyst carrier; (c) treating the slag from step (b) with the synthesis gas substantially free of slag particles to deposit on the surface slag particles a catalytic amount of at lease one metal sulfide; (d) treating the synthesis gas from step (c) to remove acidic gases suitable for sulfur production; (e) converting the acid gases from step (d) to liquid sulfur; and (f) contacting the liquid sulfur with the catalytic slag particles from step (c) to reduce the hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen polysulfide content of the sulfur. 
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the carrier is slag from the partial oxidation of coal. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the inorganic sulfide is selected from CuS, PbS, CdS, MgS, CrS, TiS, FeS or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 3 wherein the inorganic sulfide is PbS. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst is used in a packed bed. 
     
     
       6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst is used in a trickle bed. 
     
     
       7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the catalyst is used in a cartridge bed. 
     
     
       8. A process according to claim 1 which comprises after step (f) a subsequent step of mechanically treating the liquid sulfur to release hydrogen sulfide. 
     
     
       9. A process according to claim 1 wherein slag from the partial oxidation of coal is treated with a gas stream from the partial oxidation of coal to deposit on the surface of the slag a mixture of sulfides. 
     
     
       10. A process according to claim 9 wherein the catalyst is used in a packed bed. 
     
     
       11. A process according to claim 9 wherein the catalyst is used as a trickle bed. 
     
     
       12. A process according to claim 9 wherein the catalyst is used as a cartridge bed. 
     
     
       13. A process according to claim 9 which comprises after step (f) a subsequent step of mechanically treating the liquid sulfur for release of hydrogen sulfide.